Chapter 88 Dear, You Finally Came
Daniel was dragged in moments later, his face marked with fresh bruises, his lip split open. He had clearly been worked over before being brought down here.
But the instant his eyes landed on Caroline—bloodied, broken, barely recognizable—his eyes blazed with fury. He thrashed against his captors with renewed strength.
"Dr. Cortes." Alexander released Caroline and walked over to Daniel, crouching down to rip the duct tape from his mouth. "Take a good look. See what your lover was willing to do to be with you."
"You sick bastard! What the hell did you do to her?!" Daniel spat through gritted teeth.
One of the guards didn't hesitate. A brutal backhand snapped Daniel's head to the side, fresh blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. For a moment, he couldn't speak at all.
Caroline's eyes locked onto Daniel, and the terror in them reached a breaking point. From somewhere deep inside her shattered body, she found a burst of strength. She wrenched free from the guard's grip and crawled toward Alexander, her blood-slicked hands clinging to his trouser leg.
She looked up at him, tears and blood streaming down her face, shaking her head frantically. Droplets spattered across the concrete floor.
"Scared now? Too late." Alexander kicked her hand away and hauled her up like she weighed nothing—like she was already a corpse. He bent down, snatched up the gun he'd dropped earlier, and forced it into her trembling, blood-soaked hand.
Then he gripped her wrist and raised her arm, aiming the barrel directly at Daniel, who was being held on his knees.
The guard behind Daniel kicked the back of his legs hard.
Daniel's kneecaps hit the concrete with a sickening crack. He let out a scream that tore through the basement, his body crumpling as he writhed in agony.
Caroline's eyes went wide with horror. Her throat tightened. She opened her mouth and vomited blood.
Then, for the first time in what felt like forever, she screamed. "Daniel!"
"So you can talk after all. Funny how seeing your lover in pain brings your voice back." Alexander leaned in close, his voice dropping to a lover's whisper laced with cruelty. "You wanted to run away with him, didn't you? I'll send you both off together. But first..."
His other hand clamped over her eyes, plunging her into darkness.
"Guess where this bullet's going to land."
The gunshot rang out.
Caroline's body convulsed violently, and then everything went black.
Pain consumed her. It felt like her insides had been fed through an industrial meat grinder, pulverized into fragments, then crudely glued back together with something thick and viscous that barely held. The slightest movement threatened to tear her apart all over again.
Caroline's eyes fluttered open. The agony radiating through her body dragged a whimper from her throat. Tears slid helplessly down her cheeks.
"Ugh... it hurts..."
What happened to her? Why did everything hurt so much?
She clutched her abdomen and curled into a fetal position as fragmented images crashed through her mind—pink neon lights casting shadows over three faceless men circling her, their voices dripping with obscenities.
Then they shoved her onto a stage. Naked. Displayed like merchandise for an audience of leering strangers.
And then... someone bought her.
He said his name was Daniel.
He took her home. And then... she remembered hands roaming over her body, rough and invasive, before he violated her.
Caroline's eyes flew open wide.
She covered her face with both hands and sobbed.
Alexander hated when she went out without permission. But that day, she had disobeyed. She had snuck out. And because of that, she had been raped.
It was over. Everything was ruined.
Caroline had no idea her memories had been scrambled beyond recognition. She believed the husband who supposedly loved her was the same man who now wanted her dead. Lost in the delusion that she had been assaulted and betrayed Alexander, she curled up on the bed and wept uncontrollably.
Kenna, standing outside the door, heard the gut-wrenching sobs and rushed in.
"Ma'am? You're awake? Are you in pain?"
"Ah!" The sudden intrusion made Caroline flinch violently. She curled into a tighter ball, hands clamped over her ears, and screamed.
Kenna froze, startled by the extreme reaction. She stopped in her tracks and softened her voice, trying to soothe her. "Ma'am! It's okay, it's me. It's Kenna."
At the sound of the familiar voice, Caroline's screaming subsided. She lifted her head cautiously, her tear-blurred vision finally focusing on Kenna's face.
"Kenna?"
"Yes, it's me. I'm here." Kenna exhaled in relief and carefully reached out, taking Caroline's ice-cold, trembling hand in hers. "You're safe now. It's over."
"Kenna!" Caroline sat up abruptly and grabbed Kenna's hand with both of hers. "You're finally here! Am I home? What about those men? The bad men... did they follow me? I'm safe now, aren't I? Aren't I?"
Her words spilled out in a frantic rush, her eyes darting around the room.
Kenna's stomach dropped. Something was very wrong. Caroline's memory... it was fractured.
She had been home for a while now. Why was she acting like she had just escaped?
But there was no time to process it. Kenna forced herself to stay calm and gently patted Caroline's hand. "You're safe. You're home. No one can hurt you anymore."
"Home... safe..." Caroline repeated the words like a mantra, her rigid body finally relaxing slightly.
Then, suddenly, she grabbed Kenna's hand again, her voice urgent. "Where's my husband? Is he angry? I shouldn't have snuck out... I shouldn't have..."
Husband?
Kenna's mind went blank.
Was she talking about... Alexander?
Kenna stared at her in disbelief. That word—coming from Caroline's mouth—felt impossible.
And Alexander's orders had been crystal clear: treat her wounds with the best care available, and the moment she woke up, bring her to his study.
Which meant he was waiting to punish her further.
Kenna's heart twisted. She didn't want to send Caroline—clearly disoriented and vulnerable—back into the lion's den. But Caroline's crying had been loud. Someone outside must have heard. There was no hiding this.
She swallowed hard and whispered, "Mrs. Hamilton, please stay calm. I'll... I'll go tell Mr. Hamilton you're awake."
She tucked the blanket around Caroline and hurried out of the room.
It wasn't long before heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway.
The door slammed open.
Alexander strode in, his face a mask of cold fury as his eyes locked onto the bed.
"Darling!" Caroline's face lit up the moment she saw him. She didn't notice the rage etched into his features. She scrambled out of bed, ignoring the sharp pain that tore through her body as her wounds protested the movement.
She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and burying her tear-streaked face against his chest. "Darling, you're finally here! I was so scared..."
Alexander's entire body went rigid.
What... did she just call him?